I'm a tenant in Wales - my agent needs me out temporarily to address essential maintenance (damp)

Mudchild

I fully accept that you didn't mean it that way, and I do appreciate your responding to my post. But that was the point - I already said I didn't have anywhere else to stay, and the response sounded disbelieving of that. I think it was the use of the word 'really'.

But again - no biggie, thanks for your input, and let's move on.

gettingtheresometime

What about spareroom.co.uk?

Owain_Moneysaver

Three weeks could turn into four weeks or more ... that's a long time to impose on friends. 

Either the tenancy is frustrated because the property has become uninhabitable, which means you can leave the tenancy agreement without penalty, or the landlord's duty to provide accommodation continues. 
The landlord should check his landlord's insurance - a neighbour of mine had to put his tenants into a hotel for emergency repairs and his insurance paid for the accommodation.